Login

Private investigator and former YCSD detective David Anderson was a friend of Monica Drum's and volunteered to help track down the former Eagle employees who have moved out of Oxford. He located one of those employees, David Ledford, in New Sarpy, Louisiana. PI Anderson emailed Det. Armstrong to let him know what he found out.

You are never going to believe this! I wouldn't if I hadn't been there myself. Sunday night, I came in from another day of driving all over creation looking for David Ledford. I pull into the filling station to get gas. While I'm pumping the gas, I'm looking around to see what's going on. Across the street and down a ways, I spot this huge red pickup. I think, no way. It couldn't be. I've spent days looking all over the parish for this guy and suddenly he's right here in front of me? Then I see this kid come slinking out of the Po'Boy Snack Shack and ease on in to the liquor store next door. I knew it was the luckiest goddamn day I ever had. Well, I wrap up my business at the filling station in a hurry and hustle down to the liquor store.

To cut to the chase, when Ledford goes to pay for his booze, he's a couple bucks short. So I grab my stuff, head up to the counter and offer to make up the difference for him, in a neighborly kind of way. I don't think he normally would have taken it, but he was tapped out and hard up for a drink, so he did. We end up walking out together. Maybe it was guilt or gratitude over the money I gave him or maybe he'd spent so much time alone he just wanted company of any kind, but he invited me back to his "camp site" (his words) to hang out for a while. Obviously, I couldn't have planned it better if I'd tried, so of course I agreed. I followed him way back into the woods, past where even the dirt road ran out, to a cabin on the edge of a small clearing. Well, calling it a cabin is a little generous. It's really more like a glorified lean-to, and I never would have found it if he hadn't led me there. In fact, I was a little worried that I might not be able to find my way back.

Anyway, I managed to record most of our conversation, but we hung out for several hours, so I'm only including the relevant parts here. We can always make a full transcript later, if you think we should after you hear the tapes.

Ledford was drinking the whole time we were together, so it's a little hard to judge how much of what he said was true and how much was alcohol-influenced embellishment. His mannerisms, facial expressions, body language, etc. told me he was pretty skittish on some topics, so I didn't push him too much because I didn't want to spook him. I did sort of exaggerate some of my own experiences to draw him out. But I think, if you got him in an interview room, he might let loose with some useful information.

PI Anderson: That is some kind of truck you got, my friend.

David Ledford: You know it. This is the truck I've always wanted. I've had it a little over six months now. I love it, can't believe I never got one before.

PI Anderson: It's a beauty. Must've cost you a pretty penny.

David Ledford: Not too bad. Made a trade with a friend. Gave him my old truck and some cash for it.

PI Anderson: Not a bad deal. What kind of truck did you have before?

David Ledford: Nothin' special. A Silverado. That's why I had to give him some cash on top of it.

PI Anderson: Still sounds like a pretty good deal to me. How come your friend wanted to get rid of such a great ride?

David Ledford: Oh, he was getting married and his girl thought it was too big and too red.

PI Anderson: Just like a woman. Your old truck wasn't red, I guess?

David Ledford: Naw. It was just plain old blue with some white and chrome trim. But, his girl thought it was more "mature" than the truck he had, so I guess it worked out for us both.

The complete document is available to Detectives only. Your access level is Public.